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SOURCE:THE INDEPENDENT- Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has reportedly been detained in Belgium on an Indian extradition request for his alleged involvement in a $1.8bn (£1.4bn) fraud case involving the Punjab National Bank.
The Indian government had also sent a request for Mr Choksi’s extradition prior to his arrest, Reuters reported, but he was likely to challenge it on medical grounds.
Mr Choksi’s detention came weeks after news reports confirmed the businessman was living in Antwerp with his wife after securing a residency card in November 2023.
Punjab National Bank, India’s second-largest state-run lender, revealed in 2018 that it had discovered suspected fraud worth $1.8bn at one of its branches in Mumbai.
The bank filed a criminal complaint with the Indian central investigative agency against several entities and individuals, naming billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle and managing director of Gitanjali Gems Mr Choksi as the primary accused behind the alleged fraud.
Mr Choksi was arrested for illegally entering after leaving the nearby Caribbean island of Antigua, where he had been living since fleeing India.
The fugitive jeweller had left Antigua and Barbuda, where he had obtained citizenship, to seek cancer treatment and was preparing to relocate to Switzerland, according to NDTV.
Indian investigators have been trying to extradite Mr Choksi and Mr Modi since they fled the country in 2018 and question them about the bank scam.
In December 2024, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the parliament that assets valued at £246m had been recovered or liquidated to repay the debts of fugitives, including Mr Choksi.
Last week, a Pakistani-born Canadian businessman accused of helping orchestrate the 2008 attacks in Mumbai landed in Delhi after the US extradited him in the first such transfer in a terrorism case.
Tahawwur Rana, 64, a doctor-turned-businessman, was expected to face trial in a case related to the attacks that left over 160 people dead.
Additional reporting by agencies.
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And you wonder why trump keeps blacklisting Antigua lol. Antigua no.1 criminal hide-out, trafficking spot, illegal entry spot, dropoff spot, have money come take over spot.
Choksi had been in Antigua for years and the foreign affairs minister is yet to sign any document to begin the extradition process for Choksi. Instructions were given to the minister to hold on. Only one man can give instructions to cabinet minister. I wondered why he instructed the minister to hold on?????????
@Straight Shooter Stop being untruthful, Choksi used the courts and so far has been able to stymie the government attempts to get him back to India. Choksi’s nephew(Nirav Modi’) has been able to do the same in the UK see https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/nirav-modis-confidential-process-blocking-uk-extradition-unlikely-to-conclude-soon/articleshow/118609219.cms?from=mdr
Imagine spending your life on the run. Must be nice.
Antigua and Barbuda authorities should have done the same like Belgium authorities. I hope ANU government doesn’t interfere claiming him to be citizens to protect him from being extradite to India.
@Donna what has Belgium done that A&B did not do? There is an extradition process, no matter the country, Choksi will utilize the courts in Belgium to do what he did in Antigua
So Choksi really went from luxury yachts to European jail cells. Karma has a passport too apparently. This is why you should be greedy. wait, PM Browne and the 10 Mil from Alfa Nero next……
Every country he lands in, he suddenly has ‘medical issues.’ Convenient. Let’s not let that derail justice.
They gave this man citizenship and he turned us into a headline worldwide. Let’s hope India follows through and takes him back for good. We don’t need this baggage.
Choksi boy, you should have left the diamonds alone. It’s just like the saga with the Alfa Nargo.. it’s not over until it’s over
Lol you said it but I believe Browne going to find some sort of loophole and walk Scott free. Remember these men are connected eh. Handshakes!
Well that one of the pitfalls of the CIP Program. Because of our need for investments, the dollar signs always outweigh logic and reason.
Wait — again? This man does travel more than LIAT.
Hope they finally sort this saga out once and for all.
This story like a Netflix series – season 4 now.
He really thought Belgium would be a safe hideout?
One minute he sick, next minute he flying all over. Interesting.
Is he really sick?
Well, Belgium ain’t Barbuda… he might not slip through this time.
They should do a documentary on this guy.
All now so, India probably booking flight.
This fella living a more exciting life on the run than most of us working 9-5.
Well, Belgium ain’t Barbuda… he might not slip through this time.
Is Antigua going to try and claim him back?
Give the man a damn break he didn’t come here illegally, get the real criminal’s out you all sick my stomach 😤😠😡
Next thing, he say he get kidnapped again. Watch.
Go look for the real criminal’s, it looks like criminal’s are protected
@Fed up of the bull. You need to learn how to read. He is involved in a 1.8 billion dollar fraud case. He is in fact a criminal and your feelings will never change that so cuss the people in the comment section as much as you want. Your delusional way of thinking changes nothing. Very narrow minded individual. When he go jail, post bail for him since you so concerned about this criminal.
@ Fed up of the bull
Please read the comments of Quier Interlectual again, and again and again
Gaston Browne might run his mouth over and over that there is no Corruption whatsoever in his cabinet, but logics would lead any rational mind to think that he and his cabinet is as corrupt as they come.
Almost every big name criminal has used Antigua as a hide out, why?
This Indian, Allen Sanford, The crypto kid, The Chinese swindler, the Nigerians,and the list is endless. (Where are the so-called rich Africans Gatson?)
Over 90% of them were only apprehended when they left the shores of Antigua, again, why?
Antigua and the Bahamas, are the 2 most corrupt Island Nations in the Caribbean.
Money just don’t corrupt sometimes, it corrupts all the time!!!